By the end of 2023 Russian-brand metal was reported to account for 90% of the exchange's warranted aluminium stocks. In the absence of blanket sanctions, consumers have taken an approach of ‘self-sanctioning’, resulting in Russian metal increasingly finding itself in LME warehouses.   Russia will to be able to continue selling its metal, as the sanctions do not impede non-US entities from buying Russian material. While the LME holds significant influence in setting global prices, most physical metal trade occurs directly between miners, traders, and manufacturers, bypassing LME warehouses entirely. Since 2022, there has been an increase in Russian metal sales to China, as Western buyers ‘self-sanction’ seeking alternate supply sources. Russian metal has risen to account for up to 80-90% of China’s monthly imports, a significant rise from ~25% pre-invasion.